Guest Comment

August sees the traditional pause in the Parliamentary calendar, and a chance in recent years to pause for breath between momentous political events. It is also an opportunity to look ahead to what may take place in the busy Parliamentary session taking us to the end of the year.

Last month I joined the special 90th birthday celebrations for Weleda’s pioneering Skin Food product.

The natural food trade should take a lead in exposing the hypocritical regulation of herbal medicine, says Craig Sams A bust in Denver: “Okay, kid,...

Coconut oil has, for some time now, been regarded as an ingredient du jour. Interestingly, the very quality that once turned detractors against eating it – high saturated-fat content – is what now elevates it in beauty. It is rich in lauric acid, a fatty acid that kills bacteria, and is working its way into a plethora a personal care products.

Five top trends observed at Natural & Organic Products Europe, brought to you by Brand Organic. 

It’s been more than six months since the team at the Natural Beauty Yearbook and Natural Products News magazine sat down around a round table with a handful of key industry figures and discussed the state of the natural and organic beauty market.

If you have set out to create a product that is good for both people and the planet, then the packaging has to reflect this.

Another year, another inspiring and exhilarating show. At the time of going to press with this column the dust has not long settled on the fabulous Natural Beauty & Spa show, part of Natural & Organic Products Europe, held for the first time this year at ExCeL London.

The free-from food category has been a soar-away success for independent retailers – and now there’s every chance the sector’s sparkle might be rubbing off on the skincare market too.

Whether the UK and EU achieve a Brexit agreement or fail to agree and move instead to World Trade Organization rules, there will still be changes to which the food industry must adapt.

Eating out as a vegan is no longer a time-consuming, difficult challenge it once was – food options have become so much better, particularly over the last few years. It’s hard to believe those who have been vegan for decades used to carry around their own little carton of soya milk, just to be in with a chance of a decent cup of tea

This month’s analysis is from Simon Benadiba, political consultant, The Whitehouse Consultancy

How do you feel when your only option is to buy single-use plastic? If we’re honest, most of us find it impossible to avoid.

People everywhere are reducing meat consumption. Craig Sams argues that organic farmers are well placed to adjust to the coming low-meat scenario My late great...

Shoppers are enticed by premium designer labels rather than the contents of the product. The fact that these products often have over-inflated prices has in turn distorted consumer perspective of how much beauty products truly cost to make.

When faced with hardship, change and difficulty, humanity has a way of pulling together, and showing strength in the face of adversity.

Life in the 21st century is just one long, ever-decreasing circle of commonality. In the same way that the older you get, the social game of six degrees of separation actually begins to ring true, it seems to me that no matter what genre you look at, it’s intrinsically linked with all others.

Paul Gurnell, GM at Purearth, offers his thoughts on how functional, immunity boosting drinks can become a way of life for consumers. 

Despite the anti-vitamin propaganda, vitamin C actually works – depending on the dose. That’s the conclusion of the most recent and most thorough review published this year by Professor Harri Hemila from the University of Helsinki, including a clear exposé of the flaws that were used to falsely discredit vitamin C.

Bees play a crucial role in our daily lives by pollinating a third of all we eat as well as grasses that cows and other animals eat; without bees our world wouldn’t be nearly as pretty, as they pollinate flowers, plants and trees as well. We can also thank bees for the unique and healthful substances they produce.